Cocoa Loco started when Sarah Payne took a career break from her computer programming job to look after her children. She discovered that she was very good at making brownies. They were always in great demand when she went round to her friends’ houses. So one day she said to her husband Rory, “I’m going… Read more

Could one of these be you in 2018? You’re thinking of giving up the 9-to-5 to work for yourself You’re already running your business from home and want to grow If so, you need moral support and inspiration. People around you who’ve been there, get it and want to share what they have learned so… Read more

I use the word ‘interview’ a lot to describe what I do. But I wish I didn’t. I wish someone could come up with a new word because ‘interview’ is so loaded. Do you have a similar problem? Mention your profession – accountant, builder, coach – and you see your networking companion glaze over. Or… Read more

It’s not fair. However senior or successful you are, a version of that phrase has probably flitted through your mind at some point. How did you react to that feeling of being thwarted or overlooked? Perhaps it sapped your enthusiasm. Or, as Ishreen puts it, you might have had an “I’ll show them” moment and… Read more

This is how I made mine – and why I’m looking forward to chairing the Difficult decisions and how you make them discussion at the Brighton Summit. When I left the BBC, I had a romantic idea of being a ‘portfolio’ worker. Someone who would offer a range of services, based on my broadcasting background…. Read more

(With apologies to James Carville, Clinton’s campaign strategist.) I remember when I first started my business, I’d put on my best ‘brochure’ face when I went to networking events. When asked how my fledgling enterprise was doing, I’d give a stock answer, “Fine, thank you”. Normally my questioner would respond in kind, “Me too”. This… Read more

When you’re running your own company it sometimes feels like you’re hacking your way through a jungle. You’re not quite sure where you are or what you will encounter next. It would be nice to have a scout who knows the route and could warn you about the low-hanging snake 500 metres ahead. Even though… Read more

People assume that they began their career when they got their first professional qualification and had a certificate to prove it. I’ve interviewed many entrepreneurs and company founders and I think their working lives start much earlier than that. Toddler? Teenager? Trainee? When did your expertise emerge? Pick a skill that you use in your… Read more

“It drives my wife mad.” Your ears have pricked up, haven’t they? What exactly drives her mad? And why is the narrator being so open about it? Honesty and a hint of drama. You’re probably reading this because: you sense there is some sort of dilemma. You’re human and you want to get to the… Read more

In his LinkedIn profile, Darren Fell (pictured left) describes himself as a ‘disruptor’. He likes doing new things. When he does, he sometimes shakes things up. So when he became disgruntled with the hit-and-miss performance of a couple of accountants he decided to do something about it. (And I don’t just mean switching.)… Read more